Mercy Corps is a leading global relief and development agency saving and improving lives in the world’s toughest places.

In more than 40 countries, we partner with local people to put bold ideas into action, help them overcome adversity and build stronger communities.

We help communities survive and move beyond emergencies. When natural disasters strike, economies collapse or conflict flares, Mercy Corps is there.

Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives to grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs.

We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions.

Program / Department Summary: The Mercy Corps Building Resilience in Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED) is a flagship program of the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development (DFID) under the International Climate Fund (ICF).

BRACED is a global initiative that aims to benefit up to 5 million vulnerable people, especially women and children, in developing countries by helping them be more resilient in the face of climate extremes and disasters. DFID has funded BRACED programs around the world including Africa and Asia.

Mercy Corps has received funding for implementation BRACED consortium in Kenya and Uganda which will enhance resilience to climate extremes in northern Kenya and Northern Uganda through a community-led and systems-driven programme.

General Position Summary: The Governance and Natural Resource Team Leader will be responsible for leading the implementation of natural resource management activities and facilitation of projects activities aimed at strengthening the horizontal and vertical linkages of governance with the aim of community development, advocacy and increased public sector support towards public projects, plans and budgets that enhance resilience.

This includes leading community mobilization and engagement efforts in partnership with consortium partner, WASDA, and promoting engagement of local government departments, and advocating for strengthening of policies within the BRACED practice areas (water resources management, livestock, climate smart agriculture, and urban economic linkages).

Essential Job Functions:
Program Implementation:
With support from the Programme Manager and fellow sector-focused Team Leaders, carry out assessments in the target geographic areas to assess the current situation, economic and natural resource management opportunities and resources, needs and potential programs as well as obstacles that could be mitigated through the BRACED program.
Provide support with research, review, advocacy, coordination and to policy formulation between communities in Wajir, Wajir County Government departments, and national level government counterparts,
Coordinate and supervise the implementation of sub program activities by leading local level Shared Learning Dialogue sessions between the BRACED Team and practice area line ministries. The Shared Learning Dialogues (SLDs) will constitute a series of dialogue workshops that engage both public and private sector actors around innovation and learning for greater resilience.
Facilitate technical coordination of technical and financial, budget actors in interventions of the various BRACED practice areas to respond to current government strategic plans and community led initiatives.
Work with private sector and line ministries to address environmental harmful methods of extracting local natural resources and use Shared Learning Dialogues as a forum for policy formulation around sustainable methods, alternative energy mechanisms, and water management and conservation
Maintain strong, up-to date understanding of the national and local-level policy environment, including donor initiatives and funded activities and public budgeting processes, timelines and prioritization.
Foster enhanced communication and collective planning across line ministries in a way that honors needs of communities with a focus on gender-sensitive policy and budget planning.
Identify women in positions of community and local government leadership for targeted technical trainings.
Lead the planning and coordination of targeted learning events that emphasize public-sector innovation around public-private ventures.
Support coordination of large-scale infrastructure projects and other elements of an enabling market environment that local and national governments should consider when attempting to invite private sector investment and market activity.
Draw on technical resources from with Mercy Corps and BRACED Consortium Partners including the University of Nairobi to forge relationships with local government and civil society as a technical resource.
Strengthen the role of civil society by promoting civic agency, advocacy and participatory planning with the public sector and market actors.
Ensure that women and girls are actively participating in community engagement processes and that issues affecting women are brought in to the public realm when addressing the strategies for government to support community-wide resilience.
Provide support, oversight and technical guidance to local Consortium Partners in Wajir tasked with community engagement and advocacy.
Liaise between BRACED Consortium, local government counterparts, relief, aid and resilience agencies and bi-lateral organizations such as UN agencies that support planning and policy for development and management of natural resources and economic development.
Ensure that coordination linkages are drawn between BRACED, DDR and Climate Change Adaption programs and that climate-relevant information from these fora are integrated in to BRACED community mobilization and engagement efforts.
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Reporting:
Support Program Manager in the achievement of program targets and objectives and support efforts towards the design effective M&E systems and operations.
Facilitate the coordination, scheduling and production of formal and informal reports and documentation and communication of reports and learning materials.
Actively record, document and demonstrate all aspects of governance activities for impact measurement and learning purposes.
Coordination and Representation:
Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events in the field, in close coordination with the Program Director.
Attend key events, committee meetings, fora, seminars, etc. as they relate to East Africa resilience.
Coordinate activities with consortium partners, sub grantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.
Staff Management, Professional Development and Team building:
Contribute to country team-building efforts, and ensure the integration of all team and consortium members into relevant decision-making processes.
Program Support Operations:
Ensure close communication across cross-country field teams and consortium members regarding program activities and plans, challenges and obstacles to timely and quality implementation.
Coordinate with program, finance, and administration staff for troubleshooting and problem solving.
Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
Other duties as assigned

Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Supervisory Responsibility: Governance and Natural Resource Management Officer

Accountability
Reports Directly To: Program Manager

Works Directly With: Team Leaders, Consortium Members, and technical and support staff from Mercy Corps office in Portland, Oregon and Edinburgh, Scotland.

Knowledge and Experience:
Advanced University Degree (Masters) in international development; community development, public administration, public policy or related field.
At least five years of experience including three years in a senior management position in relevant field.
Previous experience with and strong understanding of DFID rules, regulations and compliance issues
Strong writing, communication, organization, prioritization and negotiating skills.
Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-sector and cross-cultural issues.
Experience contributing to donor-funded proposal processes including assessment, design, and writing
Proven understanding of both urban and rural livelihoods systems, climate change adaptation strategies, public administration and resilience programming;
Demonstrated knowledge of the Kenyan political context including devolution and recent constitutional changes and the geo-political and socio-economic environment of northern Kenya in particular.
Demonstrated familiarity with Somali culture preferred.
Excellent analytical and written skills required. Financial accounting experience preferred.
Experience in building and maintaining strong/productive relations with implementing and strategic partners and government agencies is required. This includes coordinating with local, national authorities and international counterparts.
Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
Demonstrated success building, managing and leading a team of professionals.
Experience working in conflict environments is preferred.
Security management experience in remote and insecure environments.

Success Factors:
The successful candidate will have the following characteristics:
Proven ability to work independently as part of a regional team and with international professionals.
Excellent analytical and information management skills.
Good organizational skills and ability to work under stress and in austere contexts of remote locations.
Flexible and creative in planning and problem solving.
Attention to detail, ability to follow procedures and meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
Proven excellence maintaining professional internal and external relationships.
A focus on building staff capacity.

Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org on or before Monday 18th April, 2016 by 4.00pm.

The email subject line must clearly show the job title and location they are applying for.

Applications without the right subject heading will be automatically disqualified.

Please do not attach any certificates.

(Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

We will only get in touch with shortlisted candidates.)

NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.